DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Government Reviews (Consultation)

Nick Raynsford: I am today launching a soundings exercise on the level of interest in each English region (outside London) in holding a referendum about establishing an elected regional assembly. I will be writing to all Members in the English regions outside London about the soundings exercise to invite their views. Copies of the document have also been deposited in the Vote Office for convenience.
	I am also publishing today, for consultation, a draft of the guidance to the Boundary Committee for England on local government reviews.
	Copies of the soundings and consultation papers have been deposited in the House Libraries. They are also available on the ODPM web site. Responses to both the soundings exercise and the consultation on the guidance are requested by 3 March 2003.
	The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill currently before Parliament enables the Secretary of State, by order, to specify the region(s) to hold a referendum about establishing an elected regional assembly. Before the Secretary of State can order a referendum, the Bill requires that the Boundary Committee for England has been directed to carry out, and has made recommendations arising out of, a local government review of the region. The level of interest in holding a referendum will be a key factor in deciding where a review is to be carried out. So this policy gives people a choice.
	Our proposals for elected regional assemblies will increase democracy, not bureaucracy. In regions where people vote to have an elected assembly we intend to streamline government by moving to a wholly unitary local government structure. Before an order causing a referendum to be held in the region can be made, the Boundary Committee will have conducted a review of local government in the region and made its recommendations for the best unitary structure for those parts of the region that currently have both a county and district council.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan (International Security Assistance Force)

Geoff Hoon: We welcome the decision by the United Nations' Security Council on 27 November 2002 to adopt Resolution 1444, extending the authority of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to deploy for a further twelve months, from 20 December 2002. The extension comes in recognition of the valuable work undertaken by the ISAF in helping to provide a secure environment in Kabul, allowing the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, headed by President Karzai, to pursue the difficult task of rebuilding the country.
	The new Resolution reaffirms the remit of the ISAF as covering Kabul and its immediate environs. The Resolution recognizes that security within Afghanistan is primarily a matter for the Afghans themselves and commends their efforts to establish representative, professional and multi-ethnic security forces.
	Germany and the Netherlands have offered to assume jointly the role of ISAF Lead Nation upon the completion of Turkey's tenure in command. The United Kingdom anticipates remaining a significant contributor to the ISAF. At a Force Generation Conference on 27 November, the United Kingdom offered to provide Staff Officers, an Infantry Company and a Bulk Fuel Installation. Together with their associated support forces, these total over three hundred troops, which is consistent in size with our current deployment.

Medical Preparedness

Lewis Moonie: Smallpox is a deadly and highly contagious disease that could be used as a biological weapon. Currently, we do not assess that there is any immediate threat to our Armed Forces from smallpox. But the consequences of any release of smallpox could be very serious, so we continue to monitor the threat closely, and take precautions.
	We continually review the package of defensive measures against chemical and biological attack available to our armed forces, which includes vaccination. We have decided to offer vaccination against smallpox to a small number of specialist military personnel who face a greater risk of exposure to smallpox by virtue of their specialisation. This will include those NBC specialists and specialist medical personnel who would form the spearhead of our defensive response, including vaccination teams, in the event of a confirmed, suspected or threatened release of smallpox. The Department of Health, with whom we are working closely, is planning to vaccinate a similar cohort of healthcare professionals.
	As with other vaccines, vaccination against smallpox will be voluntary and on the basis of informed consent.
	This work has been taken forward under the cross-Governmental Civil Contingency machinery for which the Home Secretary has overall responsibility.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Council of the European Union

Denis MacShane: DECEMBER 2—Brussels—Meeting on Macro Economic Dialogue (Ministerial Troika)
	3—Brussels—ECOFIN
	2–3—Brussels—Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 4—Brussels—Meeting of the Presidium
	5–6—Brussels—Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
	9—Brussels—General Affairs Council
	9–10—Brussels—Environment Council
	12–13—Copenhagen—European Council
	16–19—Brussels—Agricultural & Fisheries Council
	19—Brussels—Meeting of the Presidium
	20—Brussels—Justice & Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council
	20–21—Brussels—Convention Plenary—External Action & Defence Working Group Conclusions
	
		
			 Date Location Event 
		
		
			 JANUARY  
			 9 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 9 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed) 
			 16 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 20 Brussels EUROGOUP (evening) 
			 20 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 20–21 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 21 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 24 Nafplion Employment Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 27–28 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations Council 
			 28 Brussels EU-ASEAN Ministerial 
			 30 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			   
			 FEBRUARY  
			 5 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 6–7 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 10–11 Brussels AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES Council (to be confirmed) 
			 13 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 17 Brussels EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 18 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 20 Brussels EDUCATION, YOUTH & CULTURE Council (to be confirmed) 
			 22 Thessaloniki Energy Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 24–25 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations Council Agriculture & Fisheries 
			 26 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 27–28 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 27–28 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council 
			 28 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			   
			 MARCH  
			 1–2 Ioannina Informal Education 
			 3 Brussels Competitiveness Council 
			 4 Brussels Environment Council 
			 6 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 6 Luxembourg Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			 6 Luxembourg EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 7 Luxembourg ECOFIN 
			 7 Luxembourg Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 13 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 14–15 Athens (Informal Defence Meeting) 
			 17–18 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 17–18 Luxembourg Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 18–19 Luxembourg General Affairs & External Relations Council 
			 21 Brussels European Council 
			 27 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 27 Veria Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 27–28 Luxembourg Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 27–28 Athens EU-Rio Group, EU-MERCOSUR 
			 28–29 Veria Informal Justice & Home Affairs (Veria) 
			 31 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries council (to be confirmed) 
			   
			 APRIL  
			 2 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 3–4 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 4 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs 
			 4–6 Hania (Crete) Informal ECOFIN (Ministerial) 
			 5 Lisbon Europe—Africa Summit 
			 5 Ioannina Ministerial Meeting on Education (Informal) 
			 10 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 11–13 Chania ECOFIN (Informal) 
			 14 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 14 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries 
			 16 Athens European Conference 
			 16 Athens Signature Of The Accession (Provisional Date) 
			 23 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 24–25 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			   
			 MAY  
			 2–4 (Greece) Gymnich (Informal Foreign Ministers) 
			 5 Athens Informal Environment (Ministerial) 
			 5–6 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture Council (to be confirmed) 
			 8 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 12–13 Corfu Agriculture (Ministerial Informal) 
			 12–13 Brussels Competitiveness 
			 12 Brussels EUROGROUP 
			 13 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 14 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 14 Brussels Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 15–16 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 16 Brussels EU—ACP Ministerial 
			 16–17 Halkidiki Informal Regional Policy (Ministerial) 
			 16–18 Cruise off Greece Informal Transport & Merchant Marine (Ministerial) 
			 17 Brussels EU—W. Balkans (Zagreb Process) 
			 19 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations (+ Defence) 
			 20 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 22 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 24 Thessaloniki Informal Culture (Ministerial) 
			 26–27 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 26–27 Athens EUROMED Conference (Mid Term Ministerial) 
			 27 Brussels Environment Council 
			 28 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 30–31 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 31 St. Petersburg EU—Russia Summit 
			   
			 JUNE  
			 2 Brussels EUROGROUP 
			 2–3 Alexandroupoli Development Co-operation (Ministerial Informal) 
			 2–3 Brussels Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 a 
			 3 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 4 Brussels Meeting of the Presidium 
			 5–6 Brussels Convention Pleanry 
			 5–6 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council 
			 5–6 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			 11 Brussels Meeting of the Presidium 
			 11–12 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 12–13 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 17–18 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 20–21 Thessaloniki European Council 
			 22 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 24 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council

Iraq (Human Rights)

Jack Straw: Today I am publishing a report on human rights abuses in Iraq. It is based on intelligence material, first hand accounts of Iraqi victims of torture and oppression, and reports amassed by NGOs over the past decade. The report examines Iraq's record on torture, the treatment of women, prison conditions, arbitrary and summary killings, the persecution of the Kurds and Shia, the harassment of opposition figures outside Iraq and the occupation of Kuwait.
	The Iraqi regime's contempt for international law and its attachment to weapons of mass destruction were documented in the government's dossier published on 24 September. Its dreadful human rights record is widely known. But I consider it important that Parliament and the public should have accurate information about the awful reality of Saddam Hussein's policy of regime terror, which sustains his rule inside Iraq.

HEALTH

Contingency Planning

John Hutton: Since the tragic events of September 11th, the Department of Health has strengthened its plans against any deliberate release of biological agents, including smallpox. We have no evidence of a specific threat of a smallpox attack on the UK. However, it is sensible and prudent to ensure that the NHS can deal effectively with any potential threat.
	There are three components to the Department's preparation for response to a possible smallpox emergency: improved vaccine stocks, a plan of action and a cohort of immunised staff who could deal safely with any potential smallpox cases.
	We have already taken action to substantially increase our stocks of smallpox vaccine and we have recently begun a second procurement to add to these stocks.
	The Department of Health is today publishing an interim plan of action for discussion and comment over the coming month. Under this plan, it is intended to establish 12 Regional Smallpox Response Groups around the UK. They will consist of Infectious disease physicians and paediatricians, public health physicians, microbiologists/virologists, acute care and communicable disease control nurses and occupational health staff.
	This core group of NHS staff will need to be immune to smallpox and therefore able to react quickly and work safely with patients with actual or suspected smallpox. Preparations for the vaccination of these key workers is now underway. I expect these vaccinations to be completed by the end of next month. It is intended to vaccinate around 350 health care staff across the UK. This will be on an entirely voluntary basis with informed consent. The Ministry of Defence, with whom we are working closely, is planning to vaccinate a similar cohort of specialist military personnel.
	The Plan also explains how smallpox cases would be handled in various scenarios. The Department of Health's primary strategy would be to contain and 'ring vaccinate' around any outbreak. The teams of vaccinated health care staff are central to delivering this strategy.
	These plans are a practical precaution designed to ensure the UK is prepared for any possible smallpox emergency. They are in line with World Health Organisation advice and will be kept under active review.
	Similar interim plans are being prepared for publication by the Devolved Administrations. This work has been taken forward under the cross-Governmental Civil Contingency machinery for which the Home Secretary has overall responsibility.

National Health Service Pay Modernisation

John Hutton: I am pleased to be able to announce that on 28 November negotiators representing the UK Health Departments, NHS employers and NHS trades unions successfully concluded negotiations on a new pay system for NHS staff (with the exception of those within the remit of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body and the most senior managers). It represents the most radical transformation of the NHS pay system since the foundation of the service in 1948. The proposed new system will now go out for consultation with organisations representing NHS staff.
	Over the three year period from 2003–04 to 2005–06 the overall package will mean an average increase of 12.5 per cent in basic pay for NHS staff. It will give a 10 per cent pay increase over three years for all staff, plus an average 5.9 per cent in the longer run linked to modernisation.
	The proposed new pay system will be based on a new system of job evaluation. This means that the basic pay that NHS staff receive will reflect the knowledge, responsibility, skills and effort required in their job, rather than their historic job title or occupational group. To progress fully in the new pay system, staff will need to demonstrate a level of applied skills and knowledge appropriate to their level of responsibility.
	The new system will also introduce clearer rewards for staff who work flexibly outside traditional working hours. It will give extra flexibilities for local NHS employers to create new types of jobs and to make extra payments to reflect recruitment and retention pressures. Instead of almost 650 different staff grades and thousands of different allowances, there will be a simple set of core terms and conditions based on 8 pay bands, including simple, harmonised arrangements for working hours and annual leave.
	The new system is designed to ensure fair pay for staff, based on the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, and a clearer system of career progression. It will also directly support modernisation of patient care. It will provide new opportunities for staff to take on new responsibilities, breaking down old-fashioned demarcations and enabling jobs to be re-designed around the needs of the patient. It will produce a more sensible division of labour, with nurses, therapists and health care assistants taking on new roles that improve NHS productivity and free up more of doctors' and other senior clinicians' time for direct patient care.
	Clearer rewards for flexible working will help make NHS services more widely available to patients in the evenings and weekends. Improvements in pay, career and training prospects will help recruit an estimated 10,000 more nurses and other health professionals and an estimated 27,000 health care assistants by 2006–07 in England, particularly in high cost areas such as London. A clearer link between pay and development of knowledge and skills will help deliver higher and more consistent standards of NHS patient care.
	If the new system is approved following consultation, implementation will start in twelve NHS sites in Spring 2003 with full implementation starting in October 2004.
	A summary of the proposed new pay system has been placed in the Library.